Twisted Sister rock solid but Bret Michaels disappoints

Snider and Twisted Sister rock solid

Published 5:30 am, Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Photo: Bill Olive, For The Chronicle

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Dee Snider asked Paul Ryan's camp to stop playing his song, "We're not gonna take it." A statement from Snider reads, “I emphatically denounce Paul Ryan’s use of my band Twisted Sister’s song ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ in any capacity. There is almost nothing he stands for that I agree with except the use of the P90X.” Ryan spokesman Brandon Buck said in response: "We're not gonna play it anymore."

Bret Michaels seems like a nice guy. He's surprisingly charming making groupies endure ridiculous challenges on his TV show Rock of Love. He's equally at home crooning flashy glam anthems or country-fried ballads. He's survived and earned his place in pop culture.

It was disappointing, then, that his headlining set on the final night of Houston's inaugural Rock the Bayou festival left me wanting more. He wasn't bad, but something just didn't fully click.

Maybe Twisted Sister, who put on a ferociously entertaining performance, should have taken the closing slot. The crowd was considerably thinner during Michaels' set, and he seemed to be trying really hard to keep things exciting. But his energy felt a bit reined in, and he often seemed to be shouting instead of singing.

Michaels also wanted the crowd to believe he was flying by the seat of his tight jeans, making things up as he went along and putting together the playlist on the spot. But this is a guy who has gone from rock star to bona fide TV personality. There's a need for control in there somewhere.

To his credit, Michaels kicked off with full thunder, launching into the Poison hit Talk Dirty to Me. It was a rousing opener.

He sported his standard cowboy hat and sleeveless T-shirt, a look now emulated by countless bands and fans.

The Poison tunes were balanced with well-worn covers (Sweet Home Alabama, What I Like About You, Knockin' on Heaven's Door) and one so-so solo song.

Michaels said he wrote signature tune Every Rose Has Its Thorn in a Dallas Laundromat. He strummed and sang serviceably.

But truth be told, I think I've stopped seeing Michaels as a rock star. It's more fun these days to watch him deal with tears, hangovers and catfights on VH1.

Twisted Sister was — with apologies to other, solid acts — the best reason to sit through four days of Rock the Bayou bands.

Dee Snider and the original Sister lineup tore through darkening Monday skies with grit and glam.

And yes, he was decked out in the signature costume and makeup: blood-red lips, blue eye shadow, a mane of curled yellow hair and shredded stage wear.

Snider is a menacing, maniacal showman. He bounced furiously onstage and whipped his mane into a frenzy. He chided other bands who didn't boast original lineups and took a swipe at old enemy Tipper Gore.

It drove the crowd, the biggest of the event, absolutely wild.

But Snider also has — thank goodness — a sense of humor about what he's doing.

"I happen to know that God is a headbanger," he bellowed, referencing anxieties about an impending storm.

"The sky will stay blue — sort of. The rain will not fall down — please."